Netherlands Local Customs

  Tugboats at the Handelskade.
by Jerelis
 
  • Tugboats at the Handelskade.
      Tugboats at the Handelskade.
    by Jerelis
  • More tugboats to be admired.
      More tugboats to be admired.
    by Jerelis
  • Overview at the Handelskade, Zwartsluis.
      Overview at the Handelskade, Zwartsluis.
    by Jerelis
  • A tugboat in the sluice.
      A tugboat in the sluice.
    by Jerelis
  • Boats entering the sluice.
      Boats entering the sluice.
    by Jerelis
 

Most Viewed Local Customs in Netherlands

26.

Coffee Shops / Drugs   Amsterdam

Coffee Shops / Drugs, Amsterdam

 54 Reviews  The weed and hash menu is displayed openly for people to see. Look and decide what you want to purchase, or not. It is a CHOICE. Even though they are not really known for their weed, I have heard... 

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27.

Carnaval   Maastricht

Carnaval, Maastricht

 6 Reviews  it afternoon in town and the town hall is full of crowds. With an invitation you can get in and see the ‘ sleutel-overdracht’ ( handover the key of the city). It is always celbrated they saterday... 

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28.

Art, music other culture   Eindhoven

Art, music other culture, Eindhoven

 11 Reviews  address: Leenderweg 65, Eindhoven All kind of culturalactivities like special non-commercial movies and theateracts as well as movies in the open air in the square in front of the building... 

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29.

Canals   Utrecht

Canals, Utrecht

 4 Reviews  Whilst the banks of the Oudegracht (Old Canal) are lined with atmospheric cafes and restaurants on the former waterside wharves and warehouses the Nieuwgracht is a more traditionally-built canal whose... 

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30.

Royal tomb   Delft

Royal tomb, Delft

 6 Reviews  On the Market square of Delft stands tall the high tower of the Niewe Kerk. It is one of the highest in The Netherlands and inside the church are the graves of the Orange-family (royal) of The... 

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31.

Urinating   Amsterdam

Urinating, Amsterdam

 26 Reviews  There are 2 different kinds of pissoirs in Amsterdam----this is the one where basically you are pissing on your shoes in public behind a round metal guard-----placed regularly around Amsterdam for the... 

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32.

Dialect   Maastricht

Dialect, Maastricht

 11 Reviews  Because of its location and diverse modern history Maastrichters have developed a dialect unique to the city which is heavily influence by Belgian and German and even has some French and Spanish minor... 

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33.

Design Academy Eindhoven.   Eindhoven

Design Academy Eindhoven., Eindhoven

 2 Reviews  Eindhoven plays a very important role in the world of desing. Young desingers from home and abroad come here to study at the famous Design Academy. Their final projects can be seen every year in the... 

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34.

Museums   Utrecht

Museums, Utrecht

 2 Reviews  The 'MUSEUM KWARTIER' will be a pleasant diiscovery for you! You will find the largest Museums here, morover it is the historic heart of the City of Utrecht, a collection of Monumental buildings,... 

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35.

Inside Nieuwe Kerk   Delft

Inside Nieuwe Kerk, Delft

 8 Reviews  According to my brochure this organ was built by the Utrecht organ builder Bätz betwen 1837-1839. It has 3 keyboards, 48 registers and a free foot keyboard (pedals). And more than 3000 pipes. I've not... 

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36.

ATM / Money Exchange / Tipping   Amsterdam

ATM / Money Exchange / Tipping, Amsterdam

 19 Reviews  Netherlands was the first country (of 33) I have visited, that we had lots of problems with ATM:s. Outside Amsterdam most of them didn´t exept foreign cards! In AMsterdam there was also some witch... 

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37.

3 kisses on da cheek   Eindhoven

3 kisses on da cheek, Eindhoven

 2 Reviews  Thats how we greet our loved ones, as well as friends:-) I dont really like it, one good kiss should be enough i think, but hey its custom so... Hospitality is were the "brabander" is famous for.... 

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38.

Museum Van Speelklok tot Pierement   Utrecht

Museum Van Speelklok tot Pierement, Utrecht

 2 Reviews  On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, the National Museum From Musical Clock to Street Organ in Utrecht, the Netherlands, presents the international exhibition ‘Royal Music Machines’. Having... 

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39.

Nieuwe Kerk   Delft

Nieuwe Kerk, Delft

 2 Reviews  As usual I cannot resist to make a close up of the tower. An added bonus is always if there are bells to be seen from the outside, although the true campanological treasures usually remain hidden... 

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40.

Eating and Drinking   Amsterdam

Eating and Drinking, Amsterdam

 44 Reviews  Dinner in Holland starts at about 6 o'clock in the evening. The old-fashioned Dutch dinner consists of one simple course: beans or potatoes, meat and vegetables. Traditionally potatoes with a large... 

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41.

Philipsstadion   Eindhoven

Philipsstadion, Eindhoven

 3 Reviews  The Philipsstadion at Eindhoven. U can get a tour if you like, its the stadion of my very favourite footballteam PSV. http://www.psv.nl The VVV (the Dutch Tourist Information Office) has set out a... 

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42.

Dom church and tower   Utrecht

Dom church and tower, Utrecht

 2 Reviews  After you have visited the Dom church and on leaving it, don t walk straight to the statue in front of you, but make a turn to the left. Then you will see a gate, just enter there and oh! the piece... 

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43.

Language   Amsterdam

Language, Amsterdam

 33 Reviews  As a woman who lives in Amsterdam, I will give you the most used words: ** thanks = bedankt / dank u ** if you give something (even if you pay) you say: alstublieft ** if you ask to do something for... 

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44.

Tattooshop Dragon   Eindhoven

Tattooshop Dragon, Eindhoven

 1 Review  My son has a Klingon sign, my daughter a lions head and i have 2 small tibetan signs(female & fire). Tattoo Dragon is safe shop, with nice staff, not too expensive. If u wanna have a tattoo u can... 

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45.

Red Light District   Amsterdam

Red Light District, Amsterdam

 16 Reviews  The RLD is a lot to take in at first. Women stand or sit behind glass doors, signaling for men to come in. They are typically wearing just underwear and a bra though some get a little more “elaborate”... 

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46.

Cycling   Eindhoven

Cycling, Eindhoven

 1 Review  Dutch LOVE their bike! They use it all the time, traveling within the city. One of the nicest memories I have is seeing a little girl, smiling,sitting on the luggage rack on the back wheel as her... 

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47.

Eating - Fast Food   Amsterdam

Eating - Fast Food, Amsterdam

 9 Reviews  Favourite by Dutch students: "patatje oorlog" (chips "war" with mayonaise and peanut-sause). Also favourite: "patatje speciaal" (chips with mayonaise, onions and ketchup- or tomatosaus). Eat it on the... 

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48.

Dierenambulance (Pets-rescue-ambulance)   Eindhoven

Dierenambulance (Pets-rescue-ambulance), Eindhoven

 1 Review  At Eindhoven we have a special equiped ambulance to pick-up sick- or lost- or dead animals at Eindhoven and region. This service is mostly runned by volunteers who will either handle the calls or... 

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49.

Architecture   Amsterdam

Architecture, Amsterdam

 16 Reviews  The Amsterdam gables hide many things of beauty. Take time to explore the walls of the houses. The gablestones are being protected by the "Vereniging Vrienden van Amsterdamse Gevelstenen". 

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50.

TO call the US (AT&T...   Eindhoven

TO call the US (AT&T..., Eindhoven

 1 Review  TO call the US (AT&T Direct): Dial 0800-022-9111 Then at the voice prompt dial area code + number At the tone, dial your AT&T Calling Card number or credit card # To Call Canada (Canada Direct): Dial... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

30 April Koninginnedag/Queensday

by a5floor

The present Queen (Beatrix) set up this day to thank her mother (former Queen/princess Juliana who died a few years ago) for all the things she did for our Queen. The Queens mother had her birthday on 30 April. The Queen will go to 2 cities each year. She celebrate the above fact with the people of the Netherlands. Most of the relatives of the Queen are coming this day (most sister and their children).The Dutch are getting crazy this day: dressed up orange, drinking...In 2009 the Queen & her family visited my hometown Apeldoorn.

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Easter

by a5floor

One thing at Easter is watching the pope on TV. For about half an hour the Pope is saying his Urbi et Orbi. In this Urbi et Orbi he giving a speech about a subject that is a present topic. After this speech, he is saying Happy Easter in so many languages. At the St Peter's Square there are standing flowers. Once in a few years the flowers are coming from the Netherlands. When the Pope is saying Happy Easter in Dutch, he is thanking the Netherlands for these flowers. This was the case in 2009.

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Soccer

by a5floor

Soccer is the number one sport in the Netherlands. When there is a big tournament coming up (Europen Championship or World Championship), people go crazy. The houses are decorated with orange flags, banners, etc. When the national Dutch team is playing their games, a lot of people are dressed up in orange to support the team.The pictures shown at this tip were made during the European Champhionship in Switzerland and Austria ()2008). I am living in this street.

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Vuurwerk

by pieter_jan_v

Fireworks (vuurwerk) is all over the Netherlands in the last days of the year.Vuurwerk sales are often converted shops, that have special storage to handle a certain amount of fireworks. Dutch fireworks are very regulated, but a lot of "illegal" goods are being sold in Belgium and Germany.Officially fireworks may be lit by adults at NYE from 10AM to 2AM at New Year's Day.Be prepared of one day of bangs, rockets, Christmas trees bonfires and a BIG finale at midnight.

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Supermarket etiquette

by pieter_jan_v

Dutch Supermarkets have their own rules:Shopping carts: In most shopping markets it is forbidden to shop without a cart or a basket (mandje). Most carts are parked outside the shop, ofter near the car parking and need a deposit coin (50 Euro cents or a 1 Euro one) to be freed for used. Empty bottles: There is a refund on soda bottles and beer bottles. Often you get a ticket from a machine that takes your returned bottles. The machine may be located outside the shop. The ticket will be handeld at the register. Some supermarkets have a return policy for non-refundable plastic bottles. Non-refundable glass bottles normally are collected on a central point (glasbak).Fruit & vegatables: Most of that is prepacked, but for some items you can select what you need in an available plastic bag. Most of the times you have to weght your bags at the spot and select the proper contect to get a "BON" (a...

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Recipe: Dutch National Peasoup

by catnl

Dutch Peasoup (complete meal)Ingredients:- beef and pig's leg (a good butcher will sell those), smoked saucage, green peas, rooted selery, wintercarrot, leek, a beegcube, salt and pepper.- Put a big pan with water , the beefcube the beef and pig's leg, some salt and pepper on the stove for 2 hours.- Meanwhile wash the greenpeas with cold water and put those in the soup (after 2 hours) for about 45 minutes.Chop the other vegetables in small cubes and put those when the meat and peas are cooked for about 15-20 min. at the last 5 minutes add the sliced smoked saucage.Bon appetit:-)You can combine this soup with pancakes and/or with special dark rye-bread and bacon:)ingredienten:soepvlees, varkenshiel, spliterwten, winterwortel, knolselderie, prei, vleesbouillonblokje en zout en peper en rookworst.- zet een flinke pan met water , wat zout en peper op met 1 bouillonblokje, mager soepvlees en...

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Wentelteefjes, how to use old bread

by ATLC

A hearty breakfast dish, or maybe for dessert after a light meal.For 4 persons:4 slices of stale white bread3 eggs, broken into a shallow dish. Add a bit of milk, sugar and cinnamon, whisk well.Put the slices in the egg mixture and let them soak up all the liquid (5-10 mins).Heat some butter in the pan, fry the slices carefully until golden. Serve with a dash of icing sugar and HOT !

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RECIPE: Haagse bluf

by ATLC

A very cheap but festive and fresh tasting dessert that is made in a matter of minutes.For four persons: whisk 3 egg whites with 75 gr. sugar and 300 ml red berry juice (not cordial!) until fluffy and stiff.Serve immediately.Haagse Bluf (Bluff from The Hague) refers to a supposed characteristic of people from The Hague who like to show off by making a little seem a lot.

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Recipe: Broeder (Dutch version of Spotted Dick)

by ATLC

I treated myself to a baking tin with lid to steam puddings. And finally made a traditional Dutch 'broeder' (brother), a steamed pudding with currants and raisins with a syrup sauce (butter, syrup and the cinnamon liqueur that I soaked the raisins in). It is similar to the English pudding 'Spotted Dick'.Come to think of it, with this new baking tin, I can now make SD too!I never made a ' broeder' before, nor have I ever heard any of my friends make it. I think it's too oldfashioned. I only remember it from when I grew up. So it's been well over 20 years since I'd eaten it.Thought it would make a nice breakfast for a Sunday morning. And it was...delicious!For recipe:- 500 gr. flour- a packet of powdered yeast (enough for the amount of flour)- milk- 1 egg- raisins and current, soaked in liqueur if desired- salt- cinnamon-butter-syrupUse the food processor, it's easiest. Wash currants and...

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Recipe: Erwtensoep (Dutch Pea Soup)

by ATLC

Typical Dutch winter soup. Here's my own recipe.500 gram split peas 500 gram dried green peasOR: 1000 gram split peas2 pigs trotters 500 gram salted bacon (zuurkoolspek) 3 rookworsten (the thickest frankfurter would be similar 800 gram celeriac600 gram winter carrot 800 gram leek 400 gram onions 400 gram aardappelen (optional) ¾ stronk bleekselderij 1 bunch of celery leaves 4-6 beef stock cubes (to taste) salt and pepperbay leaf, cloves Boil the trotters in 3 litres of water, bay leaf, and cloves for 2-3 hours.Softly boil the peas in a very big pan with 2 litres water and the bacon.Boil both softly for 2-3 hours.After boiling, remove bacon and set aside. Meanwhile slice and cut all the vegetables.Add the trotters stock to the peas (remove bay leaf and cloves). Bring to boil carefully. Keep the soup thick, you can add the stock in portions while adding the vegetabels.From this point:...

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Local traditions and culture in Netherlands

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Local Customs: Cities in Netherlands
  1. Amsterdam Local Customs
  2. Rotterdam Local Customs
  3. Maastricht Local Customs
  4. The Hague Local Customs
  5. Eindhoven Local Customs
  6. Haarlem Local Customs
  7. Utrecht Local Customs
  8. Leiden Local Customs
  9. Delft Local Customs
  10. Schiphol Local Customs
  11. Breda Local Customs
  12. Nijmegen Local Customs
  13. Groningen Local Customs
  14. Arnhem Local Customs
  15. Tilburg Local Customs
  16. Valkenburg Local Customs
  17. Apeldoorn Local Customs
  18. Den Bosch Local Customs
  19. Scheveningen Local Customs
  20. Hengelo Local Customs
  21. Keukenhof Local Customs
  22. Enschede Local Customs
  23. De Efteling Local Customs
  24. Bergen op Zoom Local Customs
  25. Roermond Local Customs
  26. Noordwijk aan Zee Local Customs
  27. Leeuwarden Local Customs
  28. Alkmaar Local Customs
  29. Gouda Local Customs
  30. Texel Local Customs
  31. Amersfoort Local Customs
  32. Zwolle Local Customs
  33. Assen Local Customs
  34. Middelburg Local Customs
  35. Dordrecht Local Customs
  36. Amstelveen Local Customs
  37. Den Helder Local Customs
  38. Hoorn Local Customs
  39. Zaanse Schans Local Customs
  40. Vlissingen Local Customs
  41. Enkhuizen Local Customs
  42. Hilversum Local Customs
  43. Almere-Stad Local Customs
  44. Giethoorn Local Customs
  45. Hoek van Holland Local Customs
  46. Brielle Local Customs

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Questions and Answers

dnwitte profile photo

Q:  A couple of years since I've been back. Nothing stays the same. So, is the old strippenkaart system finally over? I can read... 

mccalpin profile photo

A: chippenkaartenmarken ;-) 

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